Most players researching paddles spend a lot of time thinking about the face material: carbon fibre, fibreglass, composite. The face matters. But the core has at least as much influence over how a paddle actually plays, how your arm feels after two hours, and how consistent your soft game is. This is what’s actually happening inside a pickleball paddle when you hit a ball.
What the Core Does
The core sits between the two face surfaces of the paddle. When the ball makes contact with the face, it compresses slightly into the core before rebounding. The core determines:
- How much of that compression is absorbed vs. transmitted to your arm
- How long the ball stays on the face (dwell time) before rebounding
- How consistent the response is across the face of the paddle
- How the paddle plays on soft shots at the kitchen vs. hard drives from the baseline
Different core materials behave very differently under these demands.
Core Materials in Pickleball Paddles
Aluminium honeycomb
Common in entry-level and older paddles. Rigid and light, but transmits vibration directly, since there’s very little energy absorption happening. The ball comes off fast, but you feel every contact in your arm. For players playing two or three times a week, this is manageable. For daily players, it accumulates. Aluminium honeycomb cores are also less consistent across the face; dead spots are common.
Polypropylene (PP) honeycomb
The current standard in the majority of mid-range and performance paddles. Better vibration dampening than aluminium, reasonably consistent across the face. Most USAPA-approved paddles in the $80-200 range use PP honeycomb in either 13mm or 16mm thickness.
PP honeycomb at 13mm: reasonably good feel, less vibration dampening, faster off the face.
PP honeycomb at 16mm: noticeably better at absorbing impact, more controlled feel, particularly on soft shots.
EPP foam (Expanded Polypropylene)
A newer core construction that differs from PP honeycomb structurally. Instead of a honeycomb cell structure, EPP foam is a continuous cellular matrix, with no hollow channels and no direction-dependent response. The result is:
- Better vibration dampening than either form of PP honeycomb
- More consistent response across the entire face, including the edges
- Better dwell time on soft shots, since the ball stays on the paddle slightly longer, giving you more feel and control for dinks and drops
- Softer off the paddle in feel, without sacrificing pop when you drive
The trade-off historically was that foam cores could deaden the paddle too much or lose resilience over time. Modern EPP foam construction has largely addressed both: the material has the right balance between absorption and rebound, and it holds up well with daily use.
Why Core Thickness Matters
Most discussions of core thickness focus on 13mm vs. 16mm. That 3mm difference is bigger than it sounds.
Thinner cores (13mm):
- Snappier, faster feel off the paddle
- Less vibration dampening
- Less consistent across the face
- Favoured by players who prioritise power and speed
Thicker cores (16mm):
- More vibration absorption
- Better control and feel on soft shots
- More consistent response across the face
- Lower arm stress over long sessions
The 16mm spec came out of competitive players noticing that their soft game (the dink game, the reset, the third shot drop) was more consistent with thicker cores. The ball stays on the paddle face for a fraction longer, and that extra dwell time gives you more feel and more margin for error.
For recreational and developing players, this is especially meaningful. The soft game is where most points are decided at the kitchen, and a paddle that gives you better feel for soft shots makes a direct difference to how well you play.
Arm Health and Core Selection
I’ve played with paddles across the full range of cores. The relationship between core material and arm feel is real and noticeable, particularly if you play frequently.
With aluminium honeycomb cores, I started noticing forearm fatigue at around the 90-minute mark during long sessions. The paddle was transmitting impact instead of absorbing it, and the cumulative effect added up. Switching to a thicker EPP foam core, that fatigue shifted: I could play longer before my arm registered the same load.
For players who are older, returning from elbow issues, or playing daily, this isn’t a marginal consideration. Pickleball elbow is real, and the paddle core is one of the most direct levers you have for managing it. A 16mm EPP foam core doesn’t eliminate elbow risk, but it meaningfully reduces the impact transmitted to your arm with every ball.
Combined with relaxed grip pressure and correct technique, a thick EPP core is your best equipment-side defence against arm problems.
Why I Chose 16mm EPP Foam for DINQ
I play almost every day. The paddle I use needs to hold up to that volume, not just survive it, but feel good through a two-hour session on the seventh straight day.
I tested paddles with PP honeycomb at 13mm, PP honeycomb at 16mm, and EPP foam at 16mm over extended periods. The EPP foam at 16mm was the clear winner for daily play, not just in arm comfort, but in how it felt at the kitchen. The dink game became more consistent. The third shot drop was easier to control. And at the end of long sessions, my arm wasn’t complaining.
The DINQ paddle pairs that 16mm EPP foam core with a T700 carbon fibre face. The T700 face provides the spin and feedback on harder shots; the EPP core provides the feel and protection on soft shots and over time. The combination gives you what both ends of the game require.
The DINQ Founding Member Bundle: T700 carbon fibre, 16mm EPP foam core, USAPA approved, 6-pack tournament balls, carry bag.
Pre-order the DINQ Founding Member Bundle
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